Stomach-spanning gastric implants
View Patent ↗A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive implants do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The implants may take up volume within the stomach, thus reducing the digestive capacity. Additionally, the implants may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Also, a number of implants slow gastric emptying by blocking or otherwise impeding flow through the pyloric sphincter. Other implants delay digestion by providing a duodenal sleeve. A number of implants combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the implants within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the implants through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the implants occurs in the reverse.
1. A passive intragastric obesity treatment implant, comprising:
a tube having:
a tubular body of a length sufficient to extend longitudinally between an esophageal sphincter at a proximal end of the tubular body and a pyloric sphincter at a distal end of the tubular body upon implantation in the stomach, the tubular body having perforations therein to permit ingress of stomach juices;
a first set of longitudinal slits formed in a wall of the tube adjacent the proximal end of the tubular body and forming a first collapsible member;
a second set of longitudinal slits formed in the wall of the tube adjacent the distal end of the tubular body and forming a second collapsible member;
an esophageal stent sized to anchor within the esophagus just above the esophageal sphincter, the esophageal stent extending proximally from the first set of longitudinal slits, the first set of longitudinal slits disposed between the esophageal stent and the tubular body;
a distal sleeve forming a duodenal tube, the distal sleeve extending distally from the second set of longitudinal slits, the second set of longitudinal slits disposed between the distal sleeve and the tubular body; and
a bulbous flange surrounding and connected to the distal end of the tubular body, the bulbous flange having a size that prevents passage through the pyloric sphincter,
the implant being formed of materials that permit it to be compressed into a substantially linear transoral delivery configuration and that will resist degradation over a period of at least six months within the stomach.
2. The implant of claim 1 , further including:
an enlargement surrounding the duodenal tube and sized to prevent passage through the pyloric sphincter.
3. The implant of claim 2 , wherein the duodenal tube and enlargement extend only up to 5-10 cm in length.
4. The implant of claim 1 , further including a set of perforations along the tubular body between the first set of longitudinal slits and the second set of longitudinal slits the to allow ingress of digestive stomach juices.
5. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the bulbous flange is molded with relatively thick walls to maintain its as-molded shape without inflation.
6. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the entire implant is made of silicone.